For the last of the free Audible downloads (and stuff to listen to on the way to and from work), I chose the first of Patrick O'Brien's series of Jack Aubrey novels, Master and Commander. Set in the Napoleonic era, they follow the naval career of a man from leftenant to Admiral. In this first book, Jack Aubrey -- your archetypal everyman of His Majesty's Navy -- assumes his first post as the captain of the Sophie, a sloop of war. Also introduced is the man who will serve as his intellectual companion and erstwhile foil, Stephen Maturin, a former Irish rebel who serves as the ship's doctor.

I must say that O'Brien nails the dialogue and overall ambience of the book -- as I've read a great deal of the period literature, I can recognize hack work when I see it, and O'Brien is nonesuch -- you can expect the genuine article. His characters think and express themselves in a manner wholly suited to their respective stations in life, whether they are Irish leftenants, Danish sailors, or British powder monkies. At no point is the veil of fiction lifted.

And such descriptions of the vessels -- as exact and neat as ever the heart of man could desire. O'Brien doesn't make it easy on the reader -- I spent several hours on Wikipedia working through the various nautical terms and phrases particular to the Age of Sail -- but the result is a surpassing richness of detail and immediacy to the descriptions that put you, Gentle Reader, right on the damned quarter-deck yourself, shouting "fire!" for all that you are worth.

If you choose to get the audiobook version, let me recommend that you insist on the unabridged version read by Patrick Tull. His voices are spot-on, his accents thick and salty, and you'd swear on your life that the man was himself reading the books while at sea.

I heartily recommend it. The only danger for me now is that I get carried away on the way to work, and my road rage gives vent to hoarse shouts to "bring her about and prepare to rake the stern" of this or that commuter vehicle.